Baseball pitching training device

ABSTRACT

A device for use in learning, practicing and perfecting a baseball pitching motion comprising, a practice glove worn on the pitching hand having a pair of directional indicator elements extending therefrom. The indicator elements extending as independent elongated flexible bands removably interconnected from the end of the index finger portion and adjacent finger portion. By practicing the pitching motion, the relative position of the indicator bands will confirm and teach proper pitching arm and hand position through the multiple pitching sequence of the pitching motion.

This is a continuation patent application of Ser. No. 11/166,814, filed Jun. 27, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This device and method relates to the teaching of proper baseball pitching techniques to improve the pitching mechanics of the pitcher.

2. Description of Prior Art

Prior art devices of this type are unknown for baseball pitching. A variety of sports related devices have been developed to teach proper sports form and mechanics, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,159 on a tennis training device that has a weighted flexible tether that is grasped at one end and swung forward using the motion associated with the exaggerated throwing of a baseball to teach the proper arm stroke used in tennis.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,664 discloses another tennis training device that uses a pair of weighted elongated pouches attached to a handle at one end.

A baseball glove with an automatic ball return device is claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,442 that is used with a baseball glove and has a baseball attached to the end of a flexible line. The other end of the line extends from a retractable spool positioned on the backside of a baseball glove.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,292 a golf training aid is disclosed using a clicker which is slidably positioned on an extension element from the golfer's wrist.

In U.S. Patent Publication US 2003/0210905 A1 a dual purpose child's baseball glove is disclosed having a baseball secured to the end of the resilient tether extending from the ball and attached on the other end to the glove.

Additional references introduced by the PTO in the parent patent application prosecution were cited for reference which are U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,725,561, 3,152,337 and 5,687,421.

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,725,561 a baseball glove is disclosed which shows a somewhat conventional glove configuration having four finger portions and a thumb portion with a web 15 positioned between the finger and web portion. An interlinking lace 16 extends through the finger portions having oppositely disposed strap ends which extend a short distance from the respective spaced finger portions.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,152,337 discloses a bowler's glove in which a glove configuration has a pair of central finger portions with oppositely disposed foreshortened finger portions and an opening for the thumb to extend through of the glove structure. A pair of narrow straps extend from the two center finger portions to a horizontally disposed wrist strap which allows the individuals to pull the two center finger portions back thus folding the fingers against the palm portion of the glove with the wrist area restraining the fingers from being extended.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,421 a baseball mitt and glove protecting covers and baseball mitt and glove with protective cover is disclosed which shows a large baseball mitt with an integrated finger receiving portion and what appears to be a single thumb receiving portion with a secondary cover element which has a plurality of Velcro straps that extend along the perimeter edges so as to be overlaid over the primary glove as a cover configuration, holding same in place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A baseball teaching device for pitching in which a specialized sports glove is used by the pitcher to simulate the action of pitching a baseball. The glove has positioning indicator strips extending from its fingers to provide for a visual indicator of the pitching arm and hand position during the act of pitching. By following a set of method steps the correct arm and hand action position can be taught and confirmed by the resulting positioning of the indicator strips in relation to the pitcher's body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the first indication position of the pitcher with the training glove of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the second indication position of a pitcher with the training glove.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the third indicator position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fourth indicator position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fifth indicator position.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the training glove of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, a training glove 10 of the invention for teaching baseball pitching can be seen. The training glove 10 has a plurality of finger portions 11, 12, 13 and 14 with an adjacent thumb portion 15 and a backhand portion 16. A palm portion 17 interconnects the hereinbefore described finger and thumb portions with a preferably integral elastic wrist band insert 18 inwardly of the glove's open end at 19.

An index finger portion 11 has a position indicator band 20 of the invention removably secured from an end portion 21 of the finger portion 11. The indicator band 20 is of an elongated flat flexible synthetic fabric material of extended length and has a pair of snap fastener assemblies 20A inwardly of its distal end that are registerably engaged to fastener elements on an attachment tab 20B that is permanently secured to an end tip 21 thereof. The indicator band 20 is of an equal transverse dimension to that of the tab portion 20B and finger portion 11 from which it extends and is flexible, as noted, due to its extended length and the properties of the material from which it is made.

A second indicator band 22, is also removable attached to and extends from a fabric tab 22B on the end tip 23 of the finger portion 12 adjacent that of the first index finger portion 11. The second indicator band 22 also has snap fastener assemblies 22A and is of the same material and dimensional characteristics as of the first indicator band 20 and tab 20B as hereinbefore described.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings, a training practice sequence is illustrated illustrating and detailing the critical steps and positions of the motions of a correct pitch using the training glove 10 of the invention by a player P.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings, a first position is illustrated as a hands together relaxed position with a pitching hand 24 is resting inside a baseball glove 25 on a glove hand 25A. The indicator bands 20 and 22 hang straight down along the center axis of the player's body B. The indicator bands 20 and 22 do not move which indicates and creates the proper balance that is needed on the rubber of a pitching mound (not shown).

FIG. 2 defines a position in which the glove hand 25A is dropped down with the indicator bands 20 and 22 hanging straight down therefromwith the palm portion 17 of the pitching hand 24 facing to the first base side of the field (not shown).

In FIG. 3 of the drawings, the pitching position step with the glove hand 25 raised in which a proper pitching arm 26 and pitching hand 24 position with the training glove 10 thereon is achieved when the indicator bands 20 and 22 will hang straight down with an elbow 27 bent so that the indicator bands 20 and 22 are approximately one to four inches in spaced relation from the elbow 27. This correct position, thus indicated by arrows, will allow the pitcher P to rotate his pitching hand 24 at the proper position to lessen the chances of arm injury. If, for example, the indicator bands 20 and 22 land over the pitcher's arms 26 bicep portion (not shown) the pitcher P in such position may cause injury.

Alternately, if the indicator bands 20 and 22 are not within the afore defined distance from the elbow portion 27 as illustrated by arrows, the pitching arm 26 would be improperly straight (not shown) thus causing the elbow 27 to drop below the shoulder causing increased strain on the pitcher's shoulder causing potential injury.

Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, the arm motion of the pitch has simulated an indication of ball release and wherein the indicator bands 20 and 22 will engage the ground G forward of the pitcher. The indicator bands 20 and 22 are now extended outwardly from the training glove 10 and on the ground G.

Referring now to FIG. 5 of the drawings, the proper follow-through is illustrated in which the indicator bands 20 and 22 must wrap somewhere around the pitcher P's neck 28 as shown or upper back 29 to indicate proper follow-through has been achieved. If, for example, the indicator bands 20 and 22 do not stay on the neck 28 or the back 29 then the pitcher's arm 26 will whip back to the ground as in a so-called “bull whipping” known within the art causing potential arm injury.

It will be seen from the above description and illustrations that by use of the training glove 10 and the integral indicator bands 20 and 22 of the invention, a visual indication system of proper baseball pitching technique has been disclosed. By determining the relative positions of the indicator bands 20 and 22, the proper mechanics of pitching can be taught for both hard and softball pitchers.

Thus it will be seen that a new and novel training glove for pitchers has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. 

1. A baseball training glove for teaching proper pitching techniques, said training glove comprises, a glove body having multiple finger receiving portions and a thumb receiving portion, independent elongated flexible band elements extending respectively from the respective free ends of an index finger portion and an adjacent finger portion, said respective band elements are of an equal transverse dimension to one another and to said index and adjacent finger portions and are of a length greater than that of the overall longitudinal dimension of said training glove and means for removably securing said band elements to said finger receiving portions.
 2. The baseball training glove set forth in claim 1 wherein said band elements are of a length extending from said finger portions to hang freely from and beyond said training glove when simulating pitching actions.
 3. The baseball training glove set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for removably securing said band elements to said finger portions comprises, interlocking fasteners secured to said bands and to attachment tabs extending from the ends of said index and adjacent finger portion. 